Clip Joint Job

Chapter 1: Results

Chapter 1: Results

It just didn’t make sense. None at all. Brandon knows that he is not the super smart type like his very intelligent nerdy classmate, Kevin, but Brandon has an intellect and IQ not to be challenge with. After all, in his previous school before he moved to Frost Bay High, his famed intellect in formulating strategy was his ultimate shield against bullies as they know, crossing him on the wrong side would result in embarrassing or permanent punishment. He became the most effective Prefect. However after transferring here due to his father work, Brandon didn’t attempt to restore the glory he once had. It is not always pretty when all the big bullies hate you for thinking on how to get them expel.

The least he could score is an A- in the latest Mathematics Finals or at least the least he allowed himself to but the finals posted on the wall clearly indicate otherwise. A ‘D’. A freaking D that spells for dumb and disgrace. Brandon never scored so low before. Where did he go wrong? The exam wasn’t even remotely difficult for him compared to the non-strategy related subjects like English or History but he still managed to score a B or B+ on it. How can Mathematics, his favourite subject that incorporates thinking skills be his ultimate downfall in his academic records?

“I got an A+!” a girl screamed in delight as her artificial-blonde hair bobbed up and down. Janette, the school’s rich preppy girl whose father has a fortune that could buy the entire school’s assets. Latest Prada bag and Jimmy Choo’s shoes were the evidence of pampering her parents tortured her with. Oh, then there was the fact Janette is considered by many teachers as a below average student and apparently now she would be the below average student that scored an A+ in a Mathematics Finals. What?

Talk about adding insult to injury and that was not all. Five more students Brandon was pretty sure could not have pulled of A-, A or A+, apparently all did. Hugh, the brainless basketball jock, Ken, the playboy bad boy, Eddie, the gorilla bully, Naye, the failed cheerleader and Bobby, the class clown who was not remotely funny – except when he unintentionally does stupid acts. The six of them were all closely knitted friends so it was possible they could have worked together to improve their studies but by such a high margin? Even if it was possible, it has nothing to do with Brandon’s poor performances.

"So how is your result?” Zack perched behind Brandon as he too stared into the list. Zack is not from his class nor did he take the exams but he is Brandon’s best friend and the first since Brandon’s arrival into the private school Frost Bay High. “Ooo. What happened to you?”

“I don’t know,” Brandon replied without taking his eyes off. A tall figure in brown coat holding a thick brown rectangular paper package walked past the huddled students by the noticeboard. Brandon’s alert eyes captured the man’s face and knew instantly it is Mr Roger, his mathematics teacher. Brandon quickly ran towards the quick pacing Mr Roger and was later joined by 7 or more students to request for a reason for their poor results.

“I am sorry kids,” the 27 year old teacher started, clearly in a hurry. “All results are finals and have been sent to the superintendent. Even if there was a marking fault, it won’t do any good. So my suggestion is take it as a humble lesson and do your best next semester. Now if you excuse me, I am in a hurry.”

Just like that Mr Roger walked off leaving the stranded students gawking. “That fast?” Brandon said to himself.

“What?” Zack asked after being snapped out of confusion.

“Oh nothing. Well, it is not the big finals anyway so I guess I shouldn’t worry much about it and move on.”

“That is the spirit. Let’s go joined Rizar and the gang at the Marmalade Coffee House. But I need to stop by the shop.”

When Zack meant ‘the shop’, he meant his father’s gadget store. It is a small store for gadget geeks like Zack and his father. And it is not just ordinary gadgets like laptops, tablets or phones but also including weird ‘spy’ gadgets including ear piece communication device, fingerprints detector, jewel shaped bug, heat vision binoculars, pocket size minicomputer and all sorts of funny-duddy spy wannabe stuffs. Brandon personally never fancied them or take the store seriously, thinking the store as more of a hobby shop for people like Zack but Brandon could not pass out on window shopping occasionally on the couple of cool things that comes to store.

After meeting up with Rizar and their other schoolmates, Brandon and Zack began to walk back home in the night. It was then Brandon spotted from a far, a young boy about his age on the edge of the dock. Bespectacled, skinny with simple clothing, no doubt he is Kevin, his very smart classmate. Brandon never really made the effort to ever communicate with Kevin. Not because Brandon despise him or anything, it is just that they don’t have anything in common. Zack on the other hand…

“Look it is Kevin. Hey Kevin!”

Kevin didn’t reply and just stared at the waters beneath him. Something wasn’t right. Brandon’s brain gears were moving instinctively. His eyes were red – he was crying. His school bag was on the floor – he never went back home. He didn’t hear Zack calling him – he was too deep in his own thoughts. Kevin was trembling but the weather was not windy – he was scared. He was standing the edge of the dock – he is thinking of killing himself. Immediately, adrenaline rushes filled Brandon and he quickly raced towards Kevin and called him to stop.

It was too late, Kevin jumped into the ocean now at a dangerously level for someone who cannot swim and Kevin can’t swim. Brandon wanted to jump in but he was only a fair swimmer and first rule or saving a drowning person, never save them if you aren’t an expert. Brandon watched with terrifying eyes as Kevin flaunted on the ocean. His body reacting to stay afloat but law of physics and lack of swimming skills was trying to drown him.

A swoosh and a splash, someone dived into the ocean and pulled Kevin out of the drowning level. The muscular young man was strong enough to lift the weaken boy up to the dock with the help of Brandon and Zack and still have enough energy to spare to lift himself up to the dock. Brandon recognised the young man. He was Damian. A rather stocky, silent and scary looking senior who had just moved to Frost Bay High, later than Brandon.Damian was always alone and seems to prefer not to mix with anyone and even though he excelled in every sport in PE class, he chose not to represent the school in any of them or joined any sports club. Rumours had it that previously he was from the wrong side of the city and was involved in lots of gang fights and illegal trading. Although, there was no news of him being active in the underground business here, Brandon tried to keep his distance from Damian as much as he can.

“You a lifeguard?” Brandon asked as he performed basic CPR on Kevin while Zack called the ambulance.

“No,” Damian’s deep voice spoke. “I am just a good swimmer.”

“You could have killed yourself.”

"So?” Damian asked in a challenging tone. “I helped someone by instinct. I don’t bother about overthinking it. He could have died if you just stood there and I wasn’t around.”

“And get myself killed as well?” Brandon challenged back. Brandon changed his tone to inflict psychological strength onto to Damian. “It is easy for you to say with that muscle you replaced it with your brains.”

“Don’t tempt me. You don’t know who you are messing with.”

“I know who I am messing with but do you?”

“Um guys,” Zack said awkwardly. “The ambulance is here.”

A siren sound erupted while Brandon and Damian locked eyes. Kevin was awake and pasted with white confusion as the medics enveloped him with a thick towel and led him to the ambulance. One of the paramedic went to Damian but Damian shrugged it off claiming he was fine. It was then the cops arrived and asked for some testament from all three of them. The night ended like that with Brandon and Zack walking away from the scene and Damian.